The Designated Twin

33. Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Five

Lorelei

“You are stupidly in love,” Lucy pokes me in the arm as we lay in bed, deadened bodies with overactive minds. We got home earlier this morning, and we are both exhausted from traveling. Our bodies don’t know if we should be in Central Time or Central European Time. We are caught somewhere in between right now.

“I’m stupidly tired,” I retort. “So get out of my bed so I can sleep.”

She clicks her tongue, rolling over on her side to look at me, propping her head in her hand. “I’m happy for you, Lor. Jealous, yes. But very happy. Plus I have a lot of story inspiration from our trip to Korsa. Did you see the massive mermaid fountain in the gardens? I can use that somehow in my merman and female pirate story. Maybe the merfolk are connected to Korsa somehow…” she teeters off, deep in thought. “Oh! I’ve got it. I need to go write it down.”

“Yes, yes! Go write down your epic tale, Lucy May.” I shove her, and she rolls her eyes but scrambles off my bed and through the door. To my dismay, Frizzle takes her place.

I groan. “What does a girl have to do to get some peace and quiet around here, huh, Frizzle?” She answers with a rumbly purr before settling in next to me. “You’re coming to Korsa with me, right? I forgot to ask if pets were allowed in the palace.”

I grab my phone from the stand and open Finley’s text thread. We don’t text often, as we are typically both busy with work when apart, but the thread is still pretty lengthy.

Can Frizzle move to Korsa with me?

He doesn’t respond immediately, so I set my phone down and allow my brain space to spiral. I’m moving in a little over a month. A week after we travel to Dallas for Mason and Karoline’s wedding. That’s a lot of travel crunched closely together. Will I be okay? My routines are going to shift so much. I lost it last night while in Korsa when I woke up to take a few steps around my bed to go to the bathroom, but the bathroom wasn’t there. I ran into a wardrobe instead. I freaked out, ran in my night clothes to the room next door because through the fog I remembered that’s where my sister was, and cried uncontrollably for at least an hour, probably longer, before I settled down and slept with her the rest of the night. She told me a story to calm me down, one about a brave woman who stepped outside of her comfort zone to create a new and better comfort zone.

Yes, she was definitely speaking of me, but as I listened, I realized she was right. I’ve been stuck my entire life. Chained to my routines. They are good, and I do absolutely need them to stay sane, but I can deviate sometimes. I can allow myself to change. I can take on big tasks. I don’t have to allow my weirdly wired brain to hold me back from something I love.

Someone I love.

I check my phone.

Yes. Will Frannie be joining our happy little relocation?

I chuckle before quickly typing back that I have to leave her with Lucy. Finley has started using that term, relocation, since this morning when I told him of my meltdown in the middle of the night. I logically know that moving and relocating are the same thing, but relocation feels safer somehow. Like I am picking up what I already have and am setting it down somewhere new. Moving feels like Goliath. Big and scary and something new. And well, I’m not David. The story of slaying a giant was never meant for me, anyhow.

The best I can do is trick my brain with synonyms.

And sleep. I should really get some sleep.

I put my phone on my nightstand and tug my quilt up to my chin. Frizzle riots and scratches my arm while attempting to get out from underneath the cocoon, which is perfectly fine with me. I like having the bed to myself.

But then I start thinking of the fact that I will have to sleep next to a person every single night for the rest of my life after I get married. Am I truly ready for that?

I think of Finley’s boyish smile and vibrant eyes. I imagine his intoxicating natural scent of incoming winter showers. I hear his voice whispering that he loves me and feel the phantom touch of his fingers trailing down my back. His lips moving against mine…

If it’s with Finley, I think I’ll be okay.

After inviting Mr. Austen to my regularly scheduled office tea time, I start to prepare water and mugs. More accurately, I demanded he come to tea time today, but that’s neither here nor there.

I need to tell him that I have a month of work left.

Because I’m relocating to Korsa.

Where I will no longer practice law but I will use all my accumulated knowledge to serve in philanthropic ways alongside Maria, Johan’s wife. Once I mentioned to her that I was a lawyer, she swept me away and showed me her work area, filled to the brim with legal matters concerning family law in Korsa.

She became one of my new favorite people on the spot.

See?

Relocating.

Picking up my legal practice and simply setting it back down in Korsa.

A knock sounds at my door, then Mr. Austen appears in my office. “That was quite the invite, Lorelei,” he jests, walking in all the way and closing the door.

“I have quite the news.” I snag two elderberry green tea bags from my stash and plop them into our mugs. I chuckle to myself looking at my BAE: Best Attorney Ever mug, seeing it in a whole new light since Finley explained what bae actually meant. Hadley got me good with that little joke.

“And what’s that?” He takes a seat, crossing one leg over his knee. I place his cup of tea in front of him on my desk.

“Remember that guy I told you about?”

He thinks for a moment before snapping his fingers. “The one who was supposed to fall for your sister but instead fell for you.”

“That’s the one,” I state, blowing on my tea. “I’m dating him now. Which means I will be moving to Korsa the second week of June because we will be married before Christmas and then there will be the coronation at the beginning of next year.”

Panic begins to build in my chest, but I stamp it down with thoughts of my prince. My loving, kind, beautiful, thoughtful, perfectly-matched-for-me prince.

Mr. Austen is silent for a bit, looking at me with searching eyes. “And you’re positive about this, Lorelei? You look a little pale.”

“Have I ever made a decision lightly or without great thought?” I brush him off. I know I’m pale. And panicking. But that doesn’t mean it’s not the right decision.

He sighs, “No. You have not. But I must say,” he picks up his mug, “I am going to miss you. And tea time. You are one of my best attorneys. When is your last day?”

“A month from now. I have to go to Dallas for a wedding for the first week of June, and then the second week I am moving. I want to spend the last two weeks of May prepping.”

“Always have a plan, don’t you?” He grins. I smile back at him, but then a sudden sense of sadness grips my heart. I really will miss my boss.

“Thank you for being a wonderful boss and mentor,” I pause. Because Mr. Austen is so much more than that. “And friend.”

He smiles and taps his fingers on my desk. “You as well, Lorelei.” At that moment his phone buzzes. I think he whispers, “Emma Jane” under his breath before letting it go to voicemail.

“Emma Jane Williams?” I ask. “As in the barista at Books and Beans?”

He nods his head and sips his tea while turning his face away from me.

“Is she okay? Does she need a lawyer? Can I be of assistance before I leave?”

He shakes his head and puffs out air. “No, nothing of the sort. We are family friends. Grew up close to each other in our neighboring town of Hartfield. She’s trying to get me to help her set up a friend of hers with a friend of mine. Playing matchmaker of sorts.”

“Ah, okay. I did get the feeling she was very into love when I spoke with her about… something before.”

“That she is.” He laughs, looking beyond me as if he is somewhere else. “Well, we will chat some more, of course, but I better get back to work today. It’s been a real pleasure working with and knowing you, Attorney Lorelei Spence.”

I stand as he does and follow him to my office door. “The same can be said of you, Attorney Knightley Austen.”

“Mom! Dad!” I shout as my parents stand outside the apartment door. “Come in.” I wave them forward as Lucy runs and bear-hugs Mom. Dad steps around them and embraces me in a warm, strong hug.

“When did you get back?” Lucy asks, wild excitement in her eyes.

“Well, when we heard from Lorelei that you two were traveling to Korsa with Finley, we suspected things might be getting serious between those two, and we needed to come vet the man ourselves,” Dad says, turning his hazel eyes onto me. I shrug.

“Yeah, I guess it is serious. But did you really expect me to jump into a relationship half-heartedly?”

Everyone laughs though I meant it seriously. Mom says, “No, we didn’t. Which is why we are back.” She embraces me in a hug. She still smells like sunshine from Arizona. “We want to meet this guy. And we missed our beautiful daughters.”

“I’m glad you both are home,” I say with sincerity. “I’ve missed you both.”

“Second that.” Lucy jumps in. “So, are you two taking us out for dinner?”

“Lucy,” I hiss under my breath.

“What?” She feigns innocence.

Dad chuckles but says, “We have the camper set up at Juniper Creek, but we do need to clean up a bit. We rushed over here because we were dying to see you two. Let us go change and we will meet you at Perry’s Seafood?”

“Are you serious?” Lucy exclaims at the same time I shout, “For real?”

“We miss good ‘ole Cajun food.” Mom smiles, looping her arm around Dad casually. She turns her attention to me. “Would you please invite Finley?”

“Of course,” I state. “He mentioned he was working on reports, but I can see if he can spare some time this evening.”

“Great!” Mom replies. “Well, we will head on out. We just couldn’t wait another second to see our girls.”

Lucy and I wave them out then immediately start to get ready to meet them at Perry’s. I send a text to Finley asking if he’s available, and he responds with “Anything for you, my Queen.”

My heart warms at his sweetness. I never thought I’d be one to look for romance or affection when it came to a relationship, but now that I have it with Finley, I couldn’t imagine going without that love and care. My heart squeezes at the thought of possibly losing him one day, but I push that thought aside. No sense in wondering about what-ifs.

An hour later, Lucy and I are in Finley’s mustang headed to Perry’s Seafood. He insisted on picking us up since he finally got his beloved old car back from where we left it at the trailhead in Tennessee. Gabriel and Anders tail us in their black sedan, and according to Finley, they will not be sitting with us tonight even though I said it would be okay.

“You’ve mentioned your parents are friendly and outgoing and very loving towards one another. How should I behave? Speak to them? Are they going to grill me? What kind of questions should I be prepared for? I’ve—” he swallows, taking one hand off the wheel to run his fingers through his semi-styled blond hair, “never met a girlfriend’s parents before.”

Lucy snickers from the back seat, and I bite my bottom lip to keep from grinning. Finley is obviously in a nervous spiral over meeting my parents, and I need to walk with him through it, but it’s also kind of adorable.

“Just be yourself, Finley. You are great. They know that I wouldn’t settle for anyone that I wasn’t comfortable and confident with.”

“Right,” he says with a shaky voice. He totally does not look convinced by the way he constantly musses up his hair as his leg bounces ninety to nothing.

I place my hand on his thigh, the heat burning through his khaki pants. He ceases the nervous bouncing. “You trust me, right? Believe in me?”

He nods emphatically.

“Well then trust my confidence in you. Trust my belief in you.”

“Aww,” Lucy drawls. I snap laser eyes at her, and she laughs.

“Thanks, Lorelei,” Finley says, looking at me with love in his eyes. “I do trust you. And I love you very much.”

“Aww!” Lucy drawls again but longer and louder. This time I laugh with her. This feels good. Right. Light. Free.

Finley, my twin, my parents… It’s the people I love the most around me tonight.

We pull into the parking lot, get out, and make our way into the restaurant. It’s nothing fancy or huge, but it is one of the higher-priced places in this town. The smells of Creole seasoning, crawfish, and oils assaults my senses, throwing me off balance for a moment.

I forgot how intense the smells of this place were. It’s not a bad smell, just a strong and over-stimulating smell. I’ll be okay as long as I’m able to step outside when I need to. But for now I want to try and adjust to the environment.

Since it’s a Wednesday night, the place is empty. But it does concern me because there are usually a few families here at any given moment.

"Did you rent this place out for the night?" I ask Finley.

"Yes. Primarily so we could eat in peace and try to keep anyone away from discovering I'm still here."

"Ah, that makes sense." I glance at the large hammerhead shark that hangs above the entrance, something that terrified me as a child, but I grew to love it.

I named it Gray.

Because of its gray body.

Creativity is Lucy’s thing, not mine.

Just like I grew to love the shark, I can grow to love my new life in Korsa.

Lucy automatically guides us to a circular table in the backroom away from other people. We sit down, and I distribute the menus stationed in the middle of the table. My parents haven’t arrived yet, and I keep having to suppress my laughter at Finley. He is constantly looking back behind him towards the doors.

“Calm down,” I whisper as I nudge his arm. “I’ll let you know when they arrive.” Lucy and I both sat in the seats that could easily see the entrance because we both don’t like having our backs to people.

The waitress takes our drink orders and as she leaves, Dad walks through the door, holding it open for Mom. I grin broadly and tap Finley to let him know they’ve arrived. His demeanor instantly stiffens; he very much looks like a crown prince at this moment. He quickly asks, “Is my hair okay? Is there anything on my face?”

I can’t stop the laughter that bubbles from me, but I shake my head no. His brows pinch together, but my parents arrive at the table. He stands and reaches out a hand towards my father. “Finley Andersson,” he says with an easy smile. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Spence.”

Dad takes his hand immediately and gives a firm shake. “The pleasure is mine. Please, call me Richard.”

Finley dips his head in a bow before turning to my mom. “And you must be the beloved mother of these beautiful women, Mrs. Spence.”

Lucy snorts, and I cover my laugh with my hand. Finley has definitely been in the South long enough to pick up on southern charm. But using the word beloved is a dead giveaway that he’s blending his princely manners with the charm.

“Do you welcome hugs?” Mom asks with a hopeful smile and stars in her eyes. Finley grins and initiates an embrace. Mom squeezes him and tells him to call her Janet. Her voice is oozing with and admiration.

Everyone sits down, and while they begin to browse the menu, I lean over and whisper to Finley, “Prince of Hearts, I do believe my mom is enamored with you.”

“You think?” he asks, his blue eyes widening.

I don’t respond verbally but instead lean over and kiss him on the cheek. Though I initiated the action, my cheeks heat, but when I pull back, I notice his have, too. I once read in a book that initiating physical acts of affection in front of others helps the one whose love language it is to feel loved. By the way he smiles broadly at me, it has worked. He mouths that he loves me before I watch his shoulders relax and demeanor shift to something less anxious and on-edge.

The dinner runs smoothly, and I only have to step outside once, which was after they set our food down in front of us. Finley engages perfectly with my parents, whom I know absolutely adore him based on their expressions, questions that they ask, and conversations that happen. Finley talks with my dad about fishing and topics of law (which I jump into) and my mom talks with him about being a travel writer and discusses Finley’s own travels around the globe (which Lucy jumps into). We all discuss a camping trip for mine and Lucy’s birthday coming up in a couple of weeks. (Finley is excited for an opportunity to redeem the ending of our last one). When the topic of relocating to Korsa and the responsibilities of running a kingdom come up in conversation, I shut down just a bit because though I’m confident in my decision, I’m still processing what everything will entail. In fact, I realize I’ve been trying to avoid thinking about the responsibilities I will gain. Maybe it’s better to save that part for after I’m in Korsa. Focusing on relocating is enough for now.

By the end of the night, Finley has effectively won my parents over, and they are already talking about inviting him out to their camper stationed on Juniper Creek for fishing, barbequing, and swimming. We plan to go out there next weekend since this weekend he has a guy’s night with Mason and Braxton, which we both assume will be the time Mason asks them about being groomsman in his wedding.

Lucy rides home with my parents even though we told her we would bring her back, but since she doesn’t tag along, Finley takes me out to the park for a walk under the warm, clear, starry Mississippi night. I have a finite number of these nights left, so I go despite being tired and knowing I have to get up to work tomorrow morning.

We are walking the paved trail, hand-in-hand, when Finley stops me and asks, “I never imagined this would become my life. Can I be honest?”

“Of course.”

He blows out air and rubs the back of his neck. “I never imagined I’d actually have to become king one day. I’ve been trying to process it since I received the news, but everything has happened so fast. I’m frightened, Lorelei. What if I can’t measure up to the greatness of my father?”

I turn his question over while I guide him to an old metal bench on the side of the walking path. We sit, huddling close to each other in the center of the bench, the dim glow of the path lights illuminating a small field of vision. The stars are bright overhead, and the moon is a thin crescent line.

“I can’t speak to how you will manage kingship. I’m just a small-town girl from Mississippi who likes plants, cats, and law. But the simple fact that you are concerned you won’t measure up means that you probably will. You will work hard to be a great king because your heart is in it.”

The crickets sing around us, filling the silence. A slight breeze tickles my neck and I snuggle closer to Finley, looping my arm through his. “I’ll be by your side through it all, even if I break down and need a moment. I trust you will get me through, and you can trust that I will stay by your side even when your anxiety gets the best of you.”

“I don’t know what I did to deserve you, Leilei, but man, I am so thankful to God.” He kisses my forehead, then I lean my head on his shoulder. We continue to sit there, listening to the bugs around hum and sing and chirp.

After he drops me off and kisses me (very well) goodnight, I spend the rest of the night accompanying my prince in dreamland.

I know he thinks he is the majorly blessed one, but I would have to say I am more blessed. I guess that’s what love is—admiring the mess out of each other to where you both perceive yourself to be more blessed.